Abstract
This novel low-dose ketamine protocol represents a paradigm shift in treating depression and PTSD. This presentation shares outcomes from our chart review of 83,000+ patients (in submission for publication) examining psycholytic ketamine’s safety and efficacy. Our approach—10-120mg buccal ketamine taken daily—demonstrates unprecedented clinical outcomes with effect sizes exceeding 2.0 for moderate-to-severe cases. The “go low and go slow” philosophy maintains patient orientation while facilitating profound therapeutic change, enabling home-based treatment with therapy integration. Key findings include 68% depression response rates (48% remission) and 67% anxiety response rates (51% remission) by week 18, with exceptionally favorable safety profiles and high retention when cost barriers are removed. Unlike psychedelic protocols requiring clinical supervision, psycholytic dosing creates a calm, oriented state where patients experience being “bigger than their bodies”—reducing overwhelming nervous system responses while maintaining full cognitive capacity. This bridges traditional therapy and psychedelic medicine, offering expansion without existential disruption. We’ll also present our “Joyous for Therapists” program, demonstrating how psycholytic states enhance therapeutic work, allowing patients to process previously inaccessible material while building sustainable habits. This talk offers clinicians practical insights into evidence-based, accessible alternatives to high-dose protocols, with profound implications for mental health treatment’s future.
Presenters
Sharon NivCofounder and VP of Patient Programming, Joyous PBC, California, United States
Details
Presentation Type
Theme
Interdisciplinary Health Sciences
KEYWORDS
Depression, Anxiety, PTSD, Telehealth, Ketamine
